THE THEATRE

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 2920, 4 November 1916, Page 13

THE THEATRE

IBv Sylvius.] "Madame X." This Month. The new stock company (mentioned 1 last week) which Mr. Bert Royle has formed willi a backing of Wellington ] capital, and which is to he known as , tho Royal (not Royle) Dramatic aud ( Comedy Company, is lo open at tho Grand Opera House on November 18 : in "Madame X.," a very powerful play, in which both Miss Muriel Starr and : Miss Madge Fabian wero seen in Australia. The exponent of the role here will be Miss Margaret Linden, of whoso capacity I know nothing. She has, I believe, been associated with Marlow, Anderson, and tho Julius Knight Company. Misses Beatrice Esmond and Madge Surtoes, and Messrs. Ronald Riley, Gerald Harcourt, and Geo. Howlctt will be members of the company. Among the pieces securcd for production are "Sunday," "Aro You a Mason?" and "Tho Fortune Huntor." Mr. J. o'Sullivan, brother of Mr. Tom Pollard, will be the manager, aud his brother will probably do tho advance work. Mr. Roylo states that one of tho objects of tho company will bo to afford chances of stago appearances to those who show talent, chances that are exceedingly difficult to get on tho Australian stage, owing to the system of importing complete companies from England and America. A Coincidence. A few weeks ago I noted that tho child actress, Dorothy Barnard, who accompanied Miss Nanco O'Neil years ago, was now a prominent "movie" actress. On seeing "The Princess Romanoff" (the sadly-mutilated version of Sardou's "Fedora") at tho Crown Theatre last week, I was astonished to find Miss Dorothy. Barnard playing an important role, with Miss O'Neil as the star. When in New Zealand Miss O'Neil gave promise of being a very big woman. She has, however, grown quite slim with tho years, and is now almost too thiu in the faco to rcflect her former beauty. No more powerful actress ever visited tho Dominion than. Miss O'Neil. New Williamson Star. Florence Rockwell, a new leading lady for the J. C. Williamson Comedy Company, arrived in Sydney last week. The newcomer, who was born in New York City, has had a distinguished stage career there. Indeed, it was her acquaintance with Mr. Fred Niblo, and the enthusiasm with which he spoke .of •his long stay on this side, which influenced her in a hurriedly-mado decision to accept her present engagement. Miss Rockwell had left her summer home, near Stamford, Connecticut, intending to return after a- few days' shopping in town, met Mr. Hugh Ward, and started on her long journey for Syrnoy without returning Hor first appearance in Australia will be at tho Sydney Criterion, in "tiommon Clay " a drama by Cleaves Kincead. This piece has rather a curious history. It was originally performed in Boston hy tho Harvard students as their prize play, and attracted so much attention that it was staged at tho Ettinge Theatre, New York, whore it had a long rim. Miss Rockwell's dehut on Broadway- was in 1902, at Fifth Avenue Theatre, with Stuart Robson, in a comedy on "Oliver- Goldsmith," aud from that date she took rank as a grown-up leading lady. Many of her successes havo been at the Now Amsterdam Theatro (New York),, where she . created Necia in "The Barrier."_ and . where she supported the lato Richard Mansfield as Portia, the Queen in , "Don Carlos," Hester Prynno in "Tho Scarlet Letter," and Lady Ann in "Richard III."

ideal Picture Acto[. Mr. Winter Hall, an esteemed actor from Christchurch, who joined tho Australian stage in 1907 as Mr. Burchell in tho late Herbert Flemming-'s production of "Olivia',' left Sydney for America hy tho Sonoma a few Jays ago. His career 6i years with tho J. C. Williamson direction in responsible support of Julius Knight, and other starring artists, and he was prominently concerned in the Harry Plimmer patriotic tour of New Zealand (as Cayley Drnmmlq, Lord Windermere, and the Messenger from Mars), by which £3500 was handed over to the

Dominion Government. Mr. Winter Hall lias introductions to tho leading film producers of Los Angeles, and as in his own person ho furnishes an authoritative type of church and legal dignitaries and financial magnates, ho should' readily achieve - the success which his niany friends on this side so heartily wish him. Fu!l«r Enterprisos. The Sydney seasoir of the Gonzales Grand Opera Company closed last night, ami this evening iho company will appeal- in Brisbane. En routo from Brisbane it is probable that, a brief season will bo played in Newcastle (though tho coal minors' strike that has eventuated during tho week may interfere with that proposal). Tho Fullor management will open the now Palace Theatre, in Bourke Street, Melbourne, this evening with an elaborate revue, entitled "The Flirting Widow," and another musical company will commence a season at the Grand Opera House (lato Adelphi), Sydney, this evening, to fill ill tho gap between the Opera Company and the pantomime, "Tho Bunyip," in which' entirely Australian production Miss Queonie Paul will be the leading "boy " Theatrical Tone. Tile following letter from General Sniith-Dorrien appeared in the Londmi "Morning Post" of August 29: —"Sir, —I can no longer refrain from invoking your help in an appeal to certain theatrical managers to endeavour to raiso the tone of performances they prepare for tho public; especially for the younger members of our fighting | profession. I am convinced that our gallant sailors and soldiers themselves would bo the first to admit that if they wore given their clioico they would prefer performances 'which, whilst cheerful and inspiriting, appealed to tho best side of their patriotic natures, and not exhibitions of scantily-dressed girls and songs of doubtful character. Tho wholo nation's heart is at last set on winning this great war, and an important factor undoubtedly is tho cleanliness of mind and the nobility of purpose of our heroes on sea and land, and it seems entirely ULiieeessary and certainly wrong to put into their heads demoralising thoughts, such as they must obtain from many performances now appearing on tho stage."

Notes. Mr. I'j. J. Tail, of Messrs. J. awl N. Tail, who is at present in Amorica in search of theatrical attractions for Australia, UTiting from New York, says lio is _ experiencing considerable difficulty in netting suitable plays for Australia., Many of tho theatres cater for a special clientele, or a certain section of the community, and the plays, although thoy aro a great succcss in Amorica, would probably not run moro than two weeks in Australia. lie remarks upon tho sniallnoss of many of tho Now York theatres, which aro attractive from an author's standpoint, but loso tlioir charm for tho business manager when the crowds aro coming. Mr. Tait is negotiating for a new company to open in Sydney early in the now year. | 'The House That Jack built" is tho Williamson pantomimo for next month. Mr. Arthur Stigant will ho tho Dame.